The REALITY of Starting a Print on Demand Business

Summary

Heather, a top seller on Etsy, discusses the realities of starting a print-on-demand (POD) business. She clarifies that it requires an initial investment and significant time, especially in the beginning. Heather addresses the challenges of slow seasons, the need to wear many hats, and the loneliness of being a solo entrepreneur. She also talks about the importance of continuous listing updates and the prevalence of copycats on Etsy. Despite these issues, she affirms that POD is a lucrative business model with significant growth potential.

Takeaways

• 💡 Print on demand (POD) business is not free; it requires an initial investment ranging from $50 to a few hundred dollars.
• 🕒 Time commitment is significant in the beginning, but maintenance time reduces once the business is established.
• 📈 Heather, a top seller, emphasizes that patience is key as it can take 3-6 months to see organic growth and longer to scale sales.
• 🌈 Despite challenges, the benefits of POD outweigh the cons for Heather, who was able to quit her 9-to-5 job due to the business's success.
• 📉 Heather notes that January, June, and July are typically the slowest months for her POD business, advising preparation for seasonal fluctuations.
• 🎩 As a solo entrepreneur in POD, one must wear many hats, including designer, SEO writer, social media manager, and customer service.
• 🏡 Heather suggests setting boundaries to avoid burnout, such as using auto-replies and vacation mode, and planning work hours in a planner.
• 🔄 The necessity to pivot is a common challenge in POD, where trends and platform changes require adaptability in product offerings.
• 🆕 Continuously uploading new listings is crucial for maintaining and growing a POD business on Etsy, as inactivity can lead to declining sales.
• 🚫 Copycat culture is prevalent on Etsy, and Heather recommends filing DMCA takedown notices to protect original designs from unauthorized use.
• 🌟 Heather's success story and the growing market for POD indicate that despite challenges, it's a lucrative business model worth considering.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the realities and expectations of starting and maintaining a print on demand (POD) business, specifically on Etsy, and the various challenges one might face as a seller.

What is Heather's role in the context of the script?

Heather is a successful Etsy seller who shares her experiences and advice on running a print on demand business, having been a top 1% seller on the platform.

What is the common misconception about starting a print on demand business that Heather addresses?

Heather addresses the misconception that starting a print on demand business is free. She clarifies that there is an initial investment required, typically ranging from $50 to a few hundred dollars.

How does Heather suggest new sellers should invest in their business?

Heather suggests that new sellers should invest in their business by cutting down on personal expenses, such as fast food and coffee purchases, and instead using that money to invest in their business.

What is the time commitment like for someone starting a print on demand business?

The time commitment for starting a print on demand business is significant, often requiring several hours a day, including early mornings, lunch breaks, and after work hours.

What are the slow seasons for a print on demand business according to Heather?

Heather mentions that the slow seasons for a print on demand business are typically January, June, July, and sometimes February.

Why does Heather recommend having a diverse range of products in a print on demand shop?

Having a diverse range of products helps to mitigate the impact of slow seasons, as Evergreen niches can continue to sell throughout the year, providing a more consistent income.

What does Heather mean by 'multiple hat wearer' in the context of running a business?

A 'multiple hat wearer' refers to the various roles a business owner must take on, such as designer, SEO writer, social media manager, customer service representative, and technical support.

How does Heather recommend setting boundaries to avoid burnout as a business owner?

Heather recommends setting boundaries by using auto-replies, vacation mode on Etsy, and planning time off using a planner or Google Calendar to mentally separate work from personal time.

What is the typical time frame Heather suggests for seeing growth in a print on demand business?

Heather suggests that it typically takes 3 to 6 months to see listings start to grow organically, and it can take a year to a few years to see significant scaling and sales volumes.

What advice does Heather give for dealing with copycat culture on Etsy?

Heather advises that if a seller's design is copied, they should consider filing a DMCA takedown notice with Etsy, which can result in the removal of the infringing listing.

Outlines

00:00

🛍️ Introduction to Print on Demand (POD) and Expectations

The speaker introduces their passion for selling on Etsy and managing a print-on-demand (POD) business. They discuss the importance of managing expectations before entering the POD world, noting that while it has its benefits, there are challenges that can be frustrating. The speaker shares their own experiences and offers reassurance that difficulties are part of any business model but are worth it in the end.

05:02

💸 Initial Investment for Starting a POD Business

Starting a POD business requires a financial investment, ranging from $50 to a few hundred dollars. The speaker debunks the myth that starting such a business is free, emphasizing that the initial costs are manageable compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. They share personal anecdotes about how they cut back on daily expenses, such as fast food, to invest in their business and how this strategy helped grow their profit over time.

10:04

⏳ Time Commitment and Workload for POD Business Owners

Managing a POD business requires a significant time investment, especially in the beginning. The speaker describes how they balanced working a full-time job with building their business, sacrificing personal time to manage listings, customer service, and orders. Over time, as their business became more established, they could reduce their hours to 5-10 hours a week, highlighting the lighter maintenance load once the business stabilizes.

15:04

📉 Dealing with Slow Seasons and Diversifying Listings

The speaker discusses the challenges of slow sales periods, particularly in January, June, and July. They suggest diversifying product listings to include both evergreen and seasonal items to mitigate the impact of slow months. They emphasize that certain niches like dog lovers or anniversary gifts tend to sell year-round, which helps balance out slower periods.

🎩 Wearing Multiple Hats as a Solo Entrepreneur

Running a POD business means taking on many roles, including product design, SEO writing, social media management, and customer service. The speaker highlights the difficulty of constantly managing these tasks, often without taking a break. They recommend setting boundaries using auto-replies, Google Calendar, and planners to organize their time and ensure mental separation from work.

🧘 Patience and Time Required to Succeed

Success in POD takes time, usually 3-6 months to see significant organic growth and 1-2 years to scale to higher profit levels. The speaker advises realistic expectations, noting that while some sellers make significant profits, most will see moderate income from their shops. The key is patience and persistence to avoid burnout.

👥 Overcoming Loneliness as a New Seller

The speaker acknowledges that starting a POD business can be lonely, as new sellers may not feel comfortable sharing their business with others. They describe their own experience with isolation and offer advice to connect with like-minded sellers, such as joining memberships or communities. The speaker promotes their own membership program for guidance and support.

🔄 Pivoting When Necessary in the POD Business

Adapting to market changes is critical for success. The speaker shares an example where they had to pivot from selling a specific sweatshirt color that went out of stock and switched to another color that ended up being more successful. The message is to stay flexible and willing to adapt to ensure business growth.

📈 Continuously Upload New Listings to Stay Relevant

The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistently uploading new listings to maintain engagement and visibility on Etsy. They explain that new uploads notify past customers and help sellers stay relevant in an evolving market. They stress that even past best-selling items may lose traction, so regular updates are essential.

📋 Dealing with Copycat Sellers on Etsy and Other Platforms

Copycat sellers are a common problem in the POD world, especially on platforms like Etsy. The speaker recounts their personal experiences with having designs copied and resold, recommending the use of DMCA takedown notices to address these infringements. They also note that while Etsy is prone to this issue, it is prevalent across many online marketplaces.

📢 Conclusion: Is Print on Demand Worth It?

Despite the challenges discussed, the speaker concludes that print on demand is a lucrative and rewarding business model. They encourage potential sellers not to be discouraged and reassure them that with patience and passion, the POD business can grow into a profitable venture. They offer a free crash course for those interested in starting their own POD business.

Keywords

💡Print on Demand (PRUND)

Print on Demand (PRUND) refers to a business model where products are only produced when a customer order is received, eliminating the need for inventory. In the video, the speaker discusses her experience as a PRUND seller on Etsy, emphasizing the benefits such as not having to invest in upfront inventory and the flexibility it offers. The video also touches on the challenges, like the need for time and financial investment to start and maintain the business.

💡Etsy

Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. The speaker mentions selling on Etsy for several years and becoming a top seller, highlighting the platform's role in her PRUND business. The video discusses the specifics of starting and growing a business on Etsy, including the investment required and the time commitment needed to manage the shop effectively.

💡Investment

The term 'investment' in the video refers to both time and money required to start and grow a PRUND business on Etsy. The speaker clarifies that starting a PRUND business is not free and involves an initial financial outlay, which can range from $50 to a few hundred dollars. Time investment is also discussed, with the speaker sharing her personal experience of working on her business before and after her regular job hours.

💡Time Management

Time Management is a key concept in the video, as the speaker discusses the initial time commitment required to build the business and the ongoing time needed to maintain it. She mentions waking up early, working during lunch breaks, and after regular work hours to manage her Etsy shop. The video emphasizes the importance of time management for success in the PRUND business model.

💡Multiple Hat Wearing

In the context of the video, 'multiple hat wearing' refers to the various roles a PRUND business owner must take on, such as designer, SEO writer, social media manager, and customer service representative. The speaker explains that as a solo entrepreneur, one must be prepared to handle multiple aspects of the business, which can be challenging but also rewarding.

💡Slow Seasons

Slow Seasons are periods when business activity is typically lower. The speaker identifies January, June, July, and sometimes February as the slowest months for her Etsy shop. Understanding and preparing for these slow seasons is crucial for PRUND business owners to manage expectations and plan their business strategies accordingly.

💡Pivot

Pivot in the video refers to the need for a business to change its strategies, products, or services in response to market trends or external factors. The speaker shares her experience of having to pivot when a popular product went out of stock and how she successfully adapted by changing the color of the product she was selling, leading to increased sales.

💡Uploading New Listings

The concept of 'uploading new listings' is discussed in relation to maintaining and growing an Etsy shop. The speaker advises that to keep the business active and attract customers, it's important to continuously add new product listings. This practice can also help in retaining past customers who receive notifications when new listings are added.

💡Copycat Culture

Copycat Culture on Etsy refers to the phenomenon where other sellers copy or replicate the designs of successful products. The speaker addresses this issue, sharing her experiences with her designs being copied and her advice on how to handle such situations, including filing a DMCA takedown notice to protect her intellectual property.

💡Bestseller Insider Membership

The Bestseller Insider Membership is a resource mentioned by the speaker as a way for new sellers to connect with like-minded individuals and receive advice and coaching. It's a community she created to help sellers navigate the challenges of starting and growing a PRUND business, offering support and guidance to those feeling isolated in their entrepreneurial journey.

Highlights

Selling on Etsy is not free and requires an initial investment of $50 to a few hundred dollars.

Time investment is crucial in the beginning stages, but as the business grows, the required time decreases significantly.

Heather, the speaker, was able to quit her 9-to-5 job after her print-on-demand business took off.

Slow seasons, particularly in months starting with 'J' like January, June, and July, are common for Etsy sellers.

Diversification of product listings, such as offering both evergreen and seasonal items, helps mitigate slow sales periods.

As a solo entrepreneur, you must wear multiple hats, handling everything from design to customer service.

Setting boundaries, such as auto-replies and vacation mode on Etsy, can help prevent burnout and maintain work-life balance.

It typically takes 3 to 6 months to start seeing organic growth in listings, and up to a few years to reach the point of scaling to significant sales.

Feeling lonely as a new seller is common, as it can be challenging to connect with others and discuss your business.

Pivoting is often necessary in response to trends, such as when a product goes out of stock, requiring sellers to adjust their listings.

Continuously uploading new listings helps maintain shop visibility and attracts notifications to past customers.

Copycat culture is prevalent on Etsy, where other sellers may copy designs or steal images, requiring sellers to file DMCA takedown notices.

Although managing a print-on-demand business can be frustrating at times, the long-term rewards can outweigh the challenges.

The print-on-demand industry is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, making it a viable business model for new entrepreneurs.

Heather provides a free crash course for those looking to start their own print-on-demand business.

Transcripts

I genuinely love selling on atsy and

being a pron man business owner however

I wanted to take a moment today to just

talk about the expectations you should

have in going into this business model

and becoming a prund man seller on any

platform there are some things that are

mildly infuriating and annoying to say

the least and I wanted to validate maybe

some experiences others have had I

personally have had I've been selling on

the platform atsy for the past few years

I've sold hundreds 2000s with atsy and

my prun man business if you're looking

to enter into the business model of PR

man it is a beautiful world I want to

welcome you in if you're new to this

channel my name is Heather I've been a

prior 1% top seller on the platform and

I don't want to make this video to scare

anyone off of selling any business model

you're going to come across issues and

that's just kind of the give and take

but the benefits for print on demand's

sake always outweigh the cons in my eyes

at least I was able to quit my 9 to-5

for this so I just want to start the

video off by saying that I just wanted

to also go over that it's not all

rainbows and butterflies out there in

being a print on demand seller there are

some nuisances and some things that

aren't fun and we're going to talk about

it in this video today so we're going to

hop straight into it guys so the first

thing that we need to address is the

investment of time and money to start a

print on man business to start a print

on man business it is not free I think

that was something that I've seen kind

of floating around the internet that it

is free it is not free you do have to

invest about $50 to as much as a few

hundred to start up this business model

the process of signing up for a printify

account is completely free and signing

up on Etsy isn't though anymore as far

as 2024 goes one thing that I thought of

when I was starting this business model

and something that convinced me to start

was the fact that I was spending so much

money on fast food probably every single

week was way higher than the cost of

investing into a new business and that's

where I started making PB and JS at home

or packing a lunch for work and instead

of going out for lunch for work or

buying a coffee in the morning I would

invest that $5 to $10 a day into my

business and over time I was able to

reinvest my business continuously to the

point that it grew to hitting multiple

for figures of profit amount and I also

want to say that this is nothing like a

brick and mortar business right a lot of

brick-and-mortar businesses have to

invest in their rent their lease per

month in their inventory employees and

so many other parts of owning a brick

and mortar business is very high as far

as Investments go in comparison to the

print on demand business model which

we're looking at $50 to a few hundred

what I found for my own experience was I

audited myself and said okay what am I

spending every week that I can invest

into a business in set instead to make

me more money and then later I can reap

the benefits a rough couple of weeks and

months of doing that but again I'm just

so happy that I took that step in saved

and reinvested into my business so the

next thing to address is your time

investment now the amount of time that

you invest when you begin is very

different than the time that you'll

invest when you're maintaining your

print on demand and atsy business when I

first started out I woke up earlier

before work to work on my business I

would work on my business during my

lunch breaks and then after my work

hours I would check in on messages I

would make sure orders are going through

correctly and then I would still create

new listings after work I was working at

hospital too and I was on call so in

between me being on call and working

regular hours it was a lot to juggle but

I did it and then I eventually quit my 9

to5 I know when I told my manager about

my shop initially they were like oh haha

that's cute that you have a little

business and then the business ended up

becoming way bigger than a cute little

business and I ended up quitting and

they were just like oh we're losing an

employee I didn't realize it was that

big of a business it is a Time

investment and for me I was so

passionate in designing for listings and

creating more and more listings this

might just not be the thing for you if

if you find you don't have passion in it

I know I love creating I love designing

and I know a lot of people who watch

this channel do as well so besides

talking about the startup hours once I

have a full-fledged business and I quit

my 9 to5 my hours of work was about 5 to

10 hours a week that I worked on my

prandi and business after I quit my job

because I wasn't actively uploading as

many listings and I didn't really need

to upload that many listings cuz I

already had bestsellers if I was really

trying to upload a lot of listings I

would work maybe more like 20 hours

again but maintenance is far less than

how long it takes to build a shop so

just keep that in mind if you're looking

to start a print on demand business is

you may have more hours at the beginning

and then to maintain a business for

print on demand it's a lot less hours

over time but I will say it does rev up

during the holiday season the next thing

that kind of stinks as far as being a

print on demand business owner is the

slow Seasons you will have slow seasons

of your business and typically I like to

say that these slow seasons start with

the letter j because this has always

almost always been the slowest months

for my own shop so January June and July

are the slowest month that I have

historically seen in my own shops I will

say also February is really slow some of

the reasons could be due to the amount

or the types of listings that you were

selling in your shop if you have

listings that are more geared towards

Evergreen niches Maybe occup s or the

dog loving Niche or maybe anniversary

gifts birthday gifts that sells all year

round so that's just something to think

about is the diversification of your

niches versus products and your listings

as a whole if you have Evergreen and

seasonal listings in your shop that's

usually the better route to take so you

don't see that quick of a drop off in

sales once January and February hit so

the next thing that is tough in running

an aty imprint demand business is you

are a multiple hat wearer of your

business and this is the struggle of

just being a solo entrepreneur is that

you are the designer of your product you

are the SEO writer your social media

manager you're the customer service rep

and the technical support for your

business to be quite honest once you

start a print on demand in atsy business

you really don't technically get time

off unless you have maybe a family

member take over and log into your shop

and handle customer service when you're

unable to or maybe you eventually have

the means to hire someone out but that's

one of the struggle buses so to speak

with running and aty and print on demand

business and this is something at first

I didn't see as a problem because I was

like well I'm getting sales 247 so I'm

cool with that if that's if that's kind

of the give and take I have to take on

in order to see sales 24/7 then that's

fine what's really tough about being a

solo entrepreneur is sometimes you feel

like you have to always be answering

messages or there might be an emergency

that someone might want to refund and

they might want to order canceled and

just know that you can set boundaries by

setting as simple as a auto reply on

your Etsy shop maybe on the weekends

there is also vacation mode on Etsy I

will say it's kind of not a vacation

mode in a way because you still have to

answer messages but at least that auto

reply triggers and sends to your

customers automatically also I've got

into the habit of going on Google

Calendar and I will set certain days

where I'm in email and I'm out of email

or maybe that I'm going to be working on

my Etsy shop for 4 hours getting out

planners is a really great way to set

boundaries mentally as well really

organizes my thoughts personally and

that's what I recommend commend to those

of you as well I'm actually going to

show I'll show a little bit Yeah so this

is my planner and as you guys can see I

just have like 2hour time blocks I have

if I have appointments or anything and

then if I'm like taking off a few days

here there it's it's my birthday coming

up so I have my birthday on there but I

have my birthday weekend that we're

we're leaving but this just helps like

organize in my brain like hey Heather

you have off time mentally separate

yourself from work so the next thing to

talk about is that it takes time and a

lot of patience to make this business

model work I would say it takes

typically 3 months to 6 months to see

listings start to really organically

grow on Etsy and on top of that it takes

a year to a few years to really see

scaling and sale volumes that some

people are able to quit their 9-to-5s

and I like to say that my story is a

skewed data point as far as what on

average a lot of sellers make I've seen

a lot of sellers typically make four to

five figures maybe a year some make six

figures in a year but a lot of sellers

may just make a few hundred in a year

but still that's a additional income

stream right so just keep that in mind I

know some people go into this business

model expecting a lot within maybe a

year time frame and it's good to to keep

it as realistic as you can because you

again don't want to burn yourself out so

the other thing that's a struggle that

goes along with multiple hat wearing is

just feeling lonely as a new seller

maybe not feeling connected to others

such as co-workers or friends or family

it's kind of hard to talk about your

business when you first start out and I

know for me it was very lonely because I

was scared to tell people until I

started telling people and it's kind of

just one of those awkward things when

you first start out cuz you almost don't

want to tell people but then you want to

grow your business and ask for advice

one thing and resource that I have is I

do have a membership called the

bestseller Insider membership you can

check that out down below but this is a

live Community I do coaching calls twice

a month in there I go over monthly

Trends what to design for products

niches there's so much within that

monthly memberships so if you're

interested in finding like-minded

Sellers and getting some advice within

there highly recommend checking that out

but that's something that I created for

that very reason cuz it is very lonely

when you start out as a Nazi seller and

that was one of the primary reasons why

I decided to create that membership the

next issue that you may face as a printa

demand seller is that you may have to

Pivot every business experiences a time

and a place where they have to Pivot and

change maybe the types of products

they're selling or the designs or the

services they're offering and some of

the reasons why is just because Trends

come and they go and that can happen for

platforms too right for me personally I

have had times where I've had to

completely change my game plan on

products I sold I sold primarily the

sand Gilden 18,000 crewet sweatshirt one

of my first Christmas and holiday

seasons that I sold in and come to find

out that product went out of stock since

everything was out of stock I wasn't

getting as many orders and I had to

Pivot instead of selling the sand

colored sweatshirt I sold the ash

colored sweatshirt as my main mockup

photo from doing that switch I ended up

making five figures in selling the ash

colored sweatshirt and from then on ash

was my new most popular color so it's

okay to Pivot sometimes your pivots

going to be better than your initial

idea too so just keep that in mind as

being a seller with print on demand if

one color is out of stock or one

product's out of stock or you're not

able to sell that product anymore what

can you change that product to still

stay at the top of the market and the

top of the page on Etsy so another thing

to expect that goes along with pivoting

in your business is that you do want to

actively upload new listings monthly in

your shop now this is platform specific

as far as selling on the atsy platform

I've noticed that if you are inactive

for some time on your shop you may

notice your sales and visits start to

decline over time and usually that

happens in a span of a year to a few

years but you do want to keep uploading

new listings one reason why is because

your past customers will get

notifications when you upload new

listings to your shop so that's a huge

bonus of adding new listings also like I

was talking about with pivoting that

Trends come and they go so if you have

listings that performed well in the past

new listings may come up that may take

over that status of that initial listing

that did really well on Etsy so this is

just an example of why you should always

continuously keep uploading listings and

just working to improve your products

that you're selling in your atsy shop

that can go a long way in the long term

of selling on Etsy just because you

ranked in the past doesn't mean you can

keep your rank you can keep it for some

time but it's always good to add new

products and new listings to your Etsy

shop again just in the long term the

last I would say struggle that is

specific to selling on Etsy is that the

copycat culture is very strong on atsy

and if you end up having a best seller

on atsy or a top selling product a

popular now badge product then this is

something that may happen to you where

people are starting to copy the design

you created or screenshotting the

picture of your listing and selling it

as your own now I've had this happen to

me more times than I can count and it is

very inferior inferior rating I can't

say that word type inferior rating Down

Below in the chat to troll me in the

comment section if you made it to this

part of the video but I will just say

annoying from this point on this is

something that is mildly and not mildly

but it's just annoying that this is a

culture that exists on atsy but if

you've went on any other platform or

sold on any other platform this is

prevalent across the internet not just

at se there has been Shopify stores I

have found and other websites and

Redbubble that have taken my designs and

resold them on their websites this is

where I recommend to some of you to look

into filing a dmca takedown notice this

is a claim you can Report with most

major platforms so Etsy has a dmca

takedown claim form that you can fill

out if you catch another seller who is

selling your design and stating its

their own design so what happens when

you file this is atsy will take down

that listing most of the time right away

for a week and that gives the option to

the other seller if they want to file a

counter claim now this is where

sometimes situations can get a little

bit sticky because I have had some

sellers in the past file the counter

claim and that does happen but sometimes

Etsy will report that hey you're in the

right as the original seller of this

design so we're not going to allow them

to file that counter claim that can

happen too but just know that that is a

option for those of you who have had

copycats that's just something I would

recommend to those of you who end up

hitting those higher sale volumes and

have a bestseller popular now that's it

for this video guys thank you so much

for watching and I know at the end of

this video a lot of people ask hey

Heather with all of these problems is

prand deand worth it and let me just say

that it is so worth it and like I said

at the beginning of this video I

genuinely believe prant man is one of

the most lucrative business models that

you can really go into and it's

something that can be done as a almost

like hobby like I did when I began and I

love designing for products and creating

listings and over time that passion led

to profit for me so if you feel like

you're late to the game the print on

demand industry is projected to grow

almost n times more than what it was

projected last year so I hope that helps

those of you who may have those feelings

right now at the end of this video thank

you all for watching don't forget to hit

that subscribe button on the way out

also if you haven't started a print on

demand business yet I do have a free

crash course that's a toz how to start

your own print on demand business links

in the descrip description below for

signing up for that and getting that

free course besides that I'll see you

all in the next video here

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